Elastic fabric



W. J. FOX

ELASTIC FABRIC Nov. l5, 1932.

Filed May 12, 1932 2 sheets-sheet 1 m nl IFIL I L|l rl 7 1W IP rr .l \l l l 1 /l \J lf ..rL hl l [Il QN {Qwu I I .rlh Ll l.

orney Nov. l5, 1932A.

w. J. Fox Y 1,887,927

ELAsTro FABRIC Filed May 12, 19:52

2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Nov. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM J. FOX, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES R.

KENDRICK CO. INC., 0F PHILADELPHIA, SYLVANIA- PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- ELASTIC FABRIC Application filed Hay 12,

This invention relates to improvements in elastic fabrics of the character used in the manufacture of corsets, brassires, abdominal belts, stockings, leggings', anklets, knee caps, arm and leg bands and other articles for surgical and other uses.

Such fabrics comprise successive courses of elast-ic strands and complemental courses of stitches of knitted thread which confine the elastic strands within the fabric, and they are produced in flat form on straight knitting machines and also in round or tubular form on circular knitting machines.

In the manufacture of many articles it is desirable that the elastic fabric be fashioned in such manner that a. wide portion thereof may merge into a narrower portion thereof and in which the same, or substantially the same, number of elastic strands shall extend continuously through both the wide and the narrower portions; and, whe-n the article of manufacture is of tubular form such, for example, as an anklet or knee cap, it is desirable that all or a portion of one side thereof shall be shorter than all or a portion of the opposite side thereof into which it merges, for the purpose of producing a. bend in the tubular fabric to accommodate the bend of the ankle when the article is an anklet, and to accommodate the bend of the knee when the article is a knee cap.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel and advantageous elastic fabric which may he produced on either a straight or circular knitting machine and which may be fashioned to have a wide portion and a narrower portion merging into the same, and in which the same, or substantially the same, number of elastic strands shall be present in both the wide and narrower portions and extend continuously through the same. v

Another object of the invention is to provide an elastic fabric in which the elastic strands in the said narrower portion thereof may change or shift their relative positions when pressure on thefabric tends to move them toward each other, to permit the fabric as a whole to be contracted to a considerable extent without wrinkling the saine, so that, in particular, where the fabric 1s used in a 1932. serial No. 610.762.

knee or ankle or similar covering, and produced on either a clrcular knltting machine or a straight knitting. machine and after-r or other part which it covers and automaticalf ly adjust itself thereto during the bending thereof when the article of which the fabric is made is in service..

With the foregoing and related objects in view the invention consists of the elements and the combinations of them hereinafter described and claimed.-

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention,

Figure 1 is a face View of apiece of fabric showing one form of embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a section through the fabric, on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the knitted threads and the elastic strands in a different position. y

Figure 4 is a View showing the outline of a piece of flat fabric made in accordance with my invention on a stra-ight knitting machine.

Figure 5 is a side view of a piece of tubular fabric made'in accordance with my invention and pressed into a flat condition.

Figure 6 is a view of the piece of fabric shown in Fig. 5, as seen from the right hand side thereof and pressed into a fiat condition.

Figure 7 is a side view of a piece of tubular fabric made in accordance with my invention in the form .of a surgical stocking and pressed into a flat condition.

Referring to the drawings, the fabric comprises knitted threads 3, which form the body of the fabric, and elastic strands 4 held in place within the fabric by the threads 3.

The elastic strands 4 extend longitudinally of the fabric from end to end thereof when the fabric is produced in flat form' on a straight knitting machine, and the strands 4` extend circumferentially of the fabric when it is produced in seamless tubular form on a circular knitting machine.

The strands 4 are of usual construction, well known in this art, each comprising a rubber core with two or more wrappings of thread thereon.

The fabric is provided with a wide portion 5, that illustrated to the left of the line a-b in F ig. 1, and with a narrower portion 6, that illustrated to the right of the line a-b in Fig. 1 and merging into the wide portion 5.

The wide portion 5 and the narrower portion 6 of the fabric each contain the same or substantially the same number of elastic strands 4 which extend continuously through the same and which-are arranged in successive, superposed courses.

The threads 3 extend between the strands 4 from face to face of the fabric and each thread 3 forms a course of loops or stitches some of which are located on one face of the fabric and some of which are located on the opposite face of the fabric, there being at least one thread 3 and one course of stitches for each elastic strand..

The loops of the stitches of the courses thereof formed by the threads 3 embrace the loops of the stitches of succeeding courses and form chains of stitches or'wales 10 on one face of the fabric, and chains of stitches or wales 11 on the opposite face of the fabric.

Within the area A of the fabric which is above and to the left of the line b--c in Fig. 1, and which includes all the wide portion of the fabric, the strands 4 are confined within the fabric wholly by plain stitches in the wales 10 and 11 on both faces of the fabric; and within the area B of the fabric which is below and to the right of the line b-c in Fig. 1, and which includes a part of the narrower portion 6 of the fabric, alternate elastic strands 4a are confined within the fabric by plain stitches 7 in the wales 1() on one face of the fabric and plain stitches 8 in the wales 11 on the opposite face of the fabric, and the strands 4* between the said alternate strands 4a, are

conned within the fabric by plain stitches 9 in the wales 10 on one face of the fabric and tuck stitches 12 in wales 11 on the opposite face of the fabric.

When herein I speak of a plain stitch, I mean a stitch formed by a loop of thread which, after emerging from between two adjacent elastic strands embraces a loop of thread forming a stitch in the first course of stitches succeeding it; and when -herein I speak of a tuck stitch I mean a stitch formed by a loop of thread which, after emerging from between twoadjacent elastic strands embraces a loop forming a stitch in the second course of stitches succeeding it conjointly with a loop forming a plain stitch in the first course of stitches suceeding it.

In producing my improved fabric on either a straight or circular knitting machine the stitch forming thread is delivered to the needles under the same degree of tension throughout the production of the entire fabric. The plain stitches within the area A conne the elastic strands therein in superposed alinement and in substantially uniform v spaced relation; and the plain and tuck stitches within the area B confine the elastic strands therein in superposed staggered relationship and also in closer relationship than in the area A, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2.

This results in narrowing the fabric within the area B, so that the entire fabricto the left of the line a-b in Fig. 1 will be narrower than the entire fabric to the right of the line a--b, even though the narrow area B contains the same number of elastic strands which are contained in the wider area of the fabric to the left of the area B and into which the elastic strands from the area B extend continuously. Thus it will be understood that a fabric constructed in accordance with my invention may be fashioned or shaped with various merging wide and narrower portions in accordance with the relative size and location of the areas thereof constructed like the areas A and B illustrated in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 4, I have illustrated the outline of a piece or strip of flat fabric having end portions wider than the central portion thereof and made in accordance with my invention on a straight-knitting machine. In this piece of fabric lthe successive courses of stitches of knitted thread and elastic strands extend longitudinally of the fabric and continuously from end toend thereof, and the central area 13offthe fabric enclosed by the line 14, is constructed like the area B, shown. in Fig. 1, and the entire area 15 of the fabric within the outline thereof and outside of the area 13 is constructed like the area A shown in Fig. 1 thereby producing the wide end portions and narrower central portion, as illustrated. It will be observed that the end portions ofthe area are made tapering. This is done to avoid an abrupt change from a narrow to a wider portion of the fabric. The piece of fabric illustrated in Fig. 1, illustrates an enlargement of the section of the fabric enclosed by the line 16 in Fig. 4.

In Figs. 5 and 6, I have illustrated a iece of tubular fabric constructed in accor ance with my invention, and this piece may be produced .in seamless form on a circular knitting machine or it may be produced on a straight knitting 'machine and afterwards seamed to produce thetubular form. In this piece of tubular fabric the successive courses of stitches of knitted threadand elastic strands forming the"fabric extend circumferentially thereof, and the area 17 of the fabric at one side of the tube and embraced by the line 18 is constructed like the area B shown in Fig. 1, and the area of the fabric outside of the areal is constructed like the fabric of the area A shown in Fig. 1, thereby shortening or contracting one side of the tubular fabric and producing abend in the tube, as shown in Fig. 5.

The tubular fabric illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 may constitute a surgical knee cap or other surgical bandage in which the bend therein may conform to the bend of the knee or other part which it surrounds and thus my improved fabric may be employed in making elastic, tubular bandages for surrounding the knee, ankle, elbow and other parts of the body where it is desirable to have a bend in the bandage.

My improved fabric not only has the advantage of providing the fashioning features hereinbefore described, but it has an additional and very important advantage in permitting that portion thereof which is constructed like the fabric area B shown in Fig. 1, to be easily contracted and expanded transversely of the elastic strands, due to the relationship between the strands and the plain and tuck stitches in the area B, which permit the staggered elastic strands in all or a part of said area to move or roll from the relative positions shown in Fig. 2 to the relative positions shown in Fig. 3, and back again, so that when the fabric shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is used as a bandage on a part of the body of a person, the knee for example, the

fabric within the area 17 at the back of the knee may contract and expand without wrinkling and in accordance with the movements of the knee, and thereby present relatively smooth and even-interior and exterior surfaces at all times.

In Fig. 7, I have shown a surgical stocking made from a piece of tubular fabric constructed in accordanceA with my invention and having a knee portion 19, an ankle portion 20, a heel opening 21, and two fabric areas 22 and 23 embraced by the lines 24 and 25, respectively, and constructed like the fabric of the area B shown in Fig. l. The area 22 is located at the back of the knee portion 19, and the area 23 is' located at the front of the ankle portion 20, thereby producing the normal bends desired for the knee and ankle portions of thestocking and permitting the fabric within the areas 22 and 23 to expand and contract in conformity with the movements of the knee and ankle of the wearer when the stocking is in service.

As surgical stockings, and other .elastic bandages for the' leg and foot are usually worn beneath an outer stocking of usual wearing apparel, the preservation of the substantiall smooth condition of the surface of the ban age at the bends therein preserves a smooth surface for the outer stocking and thereby not only greatly enhances the smooth and neat appearance of the outer stocking but also contributes greatly to the ease and comfort of the wearer.

Any desired number of the wales 10 or 11 may be provided on either face of the fabric with relation to the wales on the opposite face thereof. Usually a greater number of wales are employed on the inner or back face of the fabric than on the outer or front face of the fabric for the sake of appearance. Therefore Fig. 1 may be regarded as illustrating the inner or back face -of the fabric whether the same be made in either fiat or tubular form.

I claim as my invention,

1. A fashioned elastic fabric having a wide portion and a narrower portion merging into the same, said fabric comprising successive courses of elastic strands extending continuously through said portions and complemental courses of plain and tuck stitches of knitted thread confining the strands within the fabric, all strands in said wide portion and alternate strands in said narrower portion being confined between' plain stitches on both faces ofthe fabric, and the strands intermediate said alternate strands in said narrower portion being confined between plain and tuck stitches which hold the strands in closer relationship in said narrower portion than in said wide portion.

2. A fashioned elastic fabric having a wide portion and a narrower portion merging into the same, said fabric comprising successive `courses of elastic strands extending continuously through said portions and complemental courses of stitches of knitted thread confining the strands within the fabric, said stitches holding said strands in superposed alinement in said wide portion, and said stitches holding said strands in superposed staggered relationship in said narrower portion.

3. A fashioned elastic fabric having a wide portion and a narrower portion merging into the same, said fabric comprising successive courses of elastic strands extending continuously through saidportions and complemental courses of plain and tuck stit-ches of knitted thread confining the strands within the fabric, all strands in said wide portion and alternate strands in said narrower portion being confined between plain stitches on both faces of the fabric, the strands intermetill lill) diate said alternate strands in said narrowerportion being confined between plain stitches on one face of the fabric and tuck stitches on the opposite face of the fabric, said stitches holding said strands in superposed alinement in said Wide portion, and said stitches holding said strands in superposed staggered relationship in said narrower portion.

4. A tubular bandage formed of elastic fabric comprising successive courses of circumferentially extending elastic strands and complemental courses of plain f and tuck stitches of knitted thread confining the strands within the fabric, said bandage having a long area on one side thereof and ashorter area on the opposite side thereof both of which are occupied by the saine number of said strands extending continuously through p the same, all strands in said long area and alternate strands in said shorter area being confined between plain stitches on both faces of the fabric, and the strands intermediate said alternate strands in said shorter area being confined between plain and tuck stitches which hold the strands in closer relationship in said shorter area than in said long area and produce a bend in the bandage.

5. A tubular bandage formed of elastic fabric comprising successive courses of circumferentially extending elastic strands and complemental courses of stitches of knitted thread confining the strands within the fabric, said bandage having a long area on one side thereof and a shorter area on the opposite side thereof both of which are occupied by the same number of said strands extending continuously through the same, said stitches holding said strands in superposed alinement in said long area, and` said stitches holding said strands in superposed staggered relationship in said shorter area and producing a bend in the bandage.

6. A tubular bandage formed of elastic fabric comprising successive courses of circumferentially extending elastic strands and complemental courses of plain and tuck stitches of knitted thread confining the strands within the fabric, said bandage having a long area on one side thereof and a shorter area on the opposite side thereof both of which are occupied 'by the saine number of said strands extending continuously through the same, all strands in said long area and alternate strands in said shorter area being confined between plain stitches on both faces of the fabric, and the strands intermediate said alternate strands in said shorter area being confined between plain stitches on one face of the fabric and tuck stitches on the opposite face ofthe fabric, said stitches holding said strands in superposed alinement in said long area,.and said stitches holding said strands in superposed' staggered relationship in said shorter area51 and producing a bend in the bandage.

outside of said area and thereby producing a bend in the bandage.

8. A tubular bandage formed of elastic fabric comprising successive courses of circumferentially extending elastic strands and complemental courses of stitches of knitted thread confining the strands Within the fabric, said strands within an area of the fabric whose length is less than the length of the bandage and whose Width is less than the circumference of the bandage being confined by plain and tuck stitches, said strands outside of said area being confined by plain stitches, said stitches outside of said area holding said strands in superposed alinement, and said stitches wthin said area holding said strands in superposed staggered relationship and thereby producing a bend in the bandage.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature.

` VILLIAM J. FOX.

7. A tubular bandage formed of elastic fabric comprising successive lcourses of circumferentially extending elastic strands and complemental courses of stitches of knitted thread confining the strands within the fabric, said strands within an area of the fabric Whose length is less than the length of the bandage and whose Width is less than the circumference of the bandage being confined by plain and tuck stitches, said strands outside of said area being confined by plain stitches, and the plain and tuck stitches within said area holding the strands therein in closer relationship than the strands 

